Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-07
THE ISSUE CLEARLY JOINED.
Is the Fourth Section of the Interstate
Commerce Law Measure of Protec-
ton as Between the States:

lS tne FOurtn SectlOn OF the interstate
Commerce Law Measure of Protec
ton as Between the States?
On Wednesday morning our esteemed contem
porarJ, the San Francisco Chronicle, contained
an article defending the interstate commerce,
law, or at least the fourth section of that law
from the standpoint of the manufacturers of tn,
Pacific coast. 1t stated that a protest agains
further suspension of the fourth clause beyond
| the seventy-fifth day limit, expiring July 10th
had been signed by well-known gentlemen o
San Francisco representing the leading manu-
features of that city. Among the names men
toned were W. t. Garrett President of the
Manufacturers Association of California: Whit
tier, Fuller & Co., Kittle & Co., Merry, Fault &
Co., Pacific Oil and Lead Works, W. W. Mon
tayue & Co., California Wire Works, Tubbs &
Co., George II. Tay IL Co.
These names represent the leading manufact
uring enterprises on the coast and in theil
name, and on their behalf, the Chronicle rein
forces their protest against any further siispen
sion of the fourth clause of the bill, which was
designed to prevent railroad companies from
carrying persons or property greater distances
for a smaller compensation that is charged for
shorter distances. From the article in question.
and from statements by the manufacturers
themselves it would appear that increased
rates for long distances not only meet with their
approval, but that if such increase had not re-
suited from the bill, the whole measure in their
estimation would have been failure. The in
terviews published with some of the gentlemen
named prove conclusively that they support the
bill solely because it establishes practically Il
protective tariff as between California and the
Eastern States; that the high rates of trans
portation upon brass work, upon iron ware,
wool fabrics. etc, leave a large margin of profit
to the manufacturers of tlH Pacific coast, aud,
therefore, these manufacturers will be enabled
to charge an increased rate for their wares and
thus enlarge their profit at the expense of their
customers. If the interstate commerce law pro-
tects manufacturers i'll California, it should not
be forgotten that it also protects the Eastern
fruit-grower, wool-grower and wine-grower
against California products The railroads had
voluntarily eliminated distance within the
boundaries of the United States by carrying a
greater distance for a less compensation.
That system of transportation is the best which
subserves in the highest degree the interests of
production and consumption. The producer
and the consumer have no right to complain if
transportation has adjusted itself to their high
est interests. The low rate for long distance
enlarged the area of profitable production aud
exchange to their maximum. One of the great
underlying principles of the Union of the States
was that no State should erect any tariff barrier
against the products of other States-that is,
that citizen in Pittsburg, engaged in the mau-
ufacture of plows, harvesting machinery or
brass-work, should not find his wares discrimi-
mated against by the States of Illinois, Colorado
or California ; thatino tariff barrier should be
erected which would prevent the free exchange
of commodities between Maine and California.
Now, when the Government of the United States
enacted measure designed to regulate COM
mercc in such manner as that the freight rate
at the long distance shall be greater than the
rate voluntarily created by the instrumental
ties of transportation, it established practical
interstate protection, and it is this feature of
protection which, being recognized by our man
ufacturers, was the controlling motive of the
protest already alluded to.
Mr.. Garrett, in an interview with represent
alive of the paper referred to herein, says !:
The agents of Eastern firms flock to this coast
in large numbers. In my line, that of brass
goods, their competition with home manufact-
ure is most keenly felt"
Continuing, ne says: Brass goods, for In
stance, have been brought to this city from New
York, under low rates of freight, and sold at
Is per cent less than they could be bought for
at New York" The question arises here, who
was benefited by this cheap rate on brass goods ?
The answer is obvious. The purchaser of this
class of goods, the citizen of California who
desired to purchase brass goods. had right to
buy them in the cheapest market TO be iound
in the United States. whether that market Yves
located in New York, Pittsburg or Cincinnati,
or any other locality which would furnish the
goods at the most reasonable figure. Mr.. Gar
rett congratulates himself and his brass foundry
upon the fact that By the interference OF
the Congress of the United States. citizen Of